The Amber Trench Vase
£85.00 GBP
Sale price
£85.00 GBP
Regular price
An original, wheel-thrown and hand-carved statement vase in premium heirloom stoneware.
There is a quiet, overlooked history written directly into the skin of the British landscape. Standing at approximately nine inches tall, this substantial wheel-thrown vase tracks the journey of human footprint on our soil—from the brilliant, purposeful advancements of prehistory down to the confusing chaos of our modern lives. It feels less like an object made in a studio and more like a core sample pulled straight from the earth.
The narrative begins at the base of the vase, rooted in a clean band of raw, sandy matte stoneware clay that reveals the precision of the potter's wheel. Carved just above the foot is a delicate row of eyes, highlighted with sharp, vibrant pops of turquoise glaze. These are the eyes of prehistory—representing an ancient time of real human advancement, deep clarity, and a profound, watchful connection to the natural world.
Rising from the ancient past, the center of the cylinder transitions into an intricate, heavily scored brickwork pattern. Each vertical ridge is carved deeply into the clay body and coated in a rich brown iron wash, mimicking the rhythmic lines of ridge and furrow fields and excavation trenches. It represents the labor and structure of the pre-industrial age, where human hands worked in tandem with the geography of the land.
Then, at the very top, the history culminates in the modern world. The upper band is coated in a heavy, glossy amber goop that bubbles and erupts with chaotic volcanic craters. It is a shining, gooey swamp—a visual representation of our current existence, where we are drowning in a beige slick of knowing too much and knowing absolutely nothing at all.
This vase is designed to command a beautiful presence on its own as a definitive piece of sculpture, rest perfectly inside a cabinet of curiosities, or function beautifully to showcase fresh or dried botanical arrangements.
True to the permanent ethos of the studio, this is an heirloom piece built to endure generations.
✨ The Studio Details
- 100% Artisan Made: Wheel-thrown, hand-carved, and glazed by me, Helen, in Treharris, South Wales. This is a singular, one-of-a-kind studio piece that cannot be replicated.
- Dimensions: Approximately 9 inches in height.
- Material Profile: Heavyweight vitrified stoneware clay, iron oxide washes, bubbling volcanic glazes, and mineral turquoise inlays.
- Handling Note: Due to the nature of the volcanic glaze, the erupted bubbles on the top amber layer may be sharp to the touch. Please take extra care when lifting or handling this sculpture by moving it from the lower carved portion, or by wearing protective gloves.
- Preservation: To clean, use a soft dry brush or feather duster to gently clear dust from the craters without disturbing the delicate texture.
- Transit: Each vase is personally packed within the studio using heavy-duty, entirely sustainable and plastic-free protection to guarantee an uncompromised arrival.